In the aftermath of the deadly attacks in London, but also in Kabul and Manchester lately, we publish below an article by Franck Biancheri, written on September 12, 2001, after the terrorist attack of the twin towers of the WTC in New York. Rather than embarking on another “counter-terrorism Yalta”, as proposed by Marine Le Pen (Ouest-France, 04/06/2017 – which would closely resemble US interventions in the Near and Middle East after September 11) and to fight on the same scale as this “globalized” terrorism and because this attack “is an attack on all democracies and peaceful countries and people”, let us retake the proposal of Franck Biancheri: the creation of an “international court against terrorism”. “The horrifying events which just took place … are part of those which put their perpetrators on the bench of some of the most terrible criminals in recent history” to quote Franck Biancheri.
[divider]
For a European pro-active and constructive policy after the terrorists attacks on the USA: let’s create an international court against terrorism as we did with ex-Yougoslavia … and let’s prevent unilateral reactions which will fuel tomorrow’s terrorrists. Franck Biancheri, 12/09/2001
The horrifying events which just took place in New-York and Washington are part of those which put their perpetrators on the bench of some of the most terrible criminals in recent history. The event is shocking everybody worldwide and I feel the deepest sorrow for the American people and the USA as a people and country attacked by surprise, with no means to protect itself from such “kamikaze” operations.
I feel that this event, beyond the rage and frustration of the victims and the American people in general, calls already for a short time of coolminded thoughts; while of course thinking deeply, with compassion, to all those lives taken, these families destroyed in a few minutes without warning, without a chance to escape or fight back.
The terrorists have to be punished but let’s think of the most efficient way before reacting.
Let’s be clear, those who planned, funded, supported, organised and perpetrated these attacks have to be punished as soon as possible. But, this attack is not just an attack on the USA. It is an attack on all democracies and peaceful countries and people. The way the punishment will be implemented will speak, not only for the USA, but also for the future and the values of these democracies and peaceful countries most of which are closed allies and friends of the USA.
Therefore, the US reaction will have a big impact on tomorrow’s world behaviour.
My opinion is that these terrorists and partners should be identified, captured and judged as soon as possible following the example of the international justice process which has been recently implemented for the war crimes in ex-Yougoslavia.
Such an event can help set up an international court for terrorists crimes. This will help tomorrow’s world to be more peaceful and stable. Unilateral solutions and reactions will just add more anger, hatred and instability to a world who is searching its way out of the XXst century violence and for which the 11 September 2001 may mark a true start for a new era, or the entrance in a new dimension of violence, the globalised terrorism.
So, when an event is so big. It is extremely urgent to take some time to understand in all its dimensions before reacting. Otherwise, the risk (and maybe the very trap set up by these terrorists group) is to increase the general level of risks and violence worldwide.
The US will not follow this path by themselves due to their current mistrust of multilateral organisations; nevertheless there is no option out if the objective is really to fight efficiently against terrorism.
The Europeans have for once a true and clear responsabilities: – to support their best allies and friends: the Americans – simultaneously to advise them with conviction about moving towards this international justice process – and to initiate and move forward the concept even if Washington is at first not convinced.
Let’s use this sad ‘window of opportunity’ to make tomorrow’s world more secure by setting new standarts of international behaviour sanctionned by law. That’s a true European duty and I hope that our leaders will meet the challenge rather than repeating again and again that they bring their “full support though with no blank-check”.
So let’s take the pen and start writing something on the check: it should be, no use of force without simultaneous setting up of an international legal framework against terrorism.
Let’s create an international court against terrorism as we did with ex-Yougoslavia … and let’s prevent unilateral reactions which will fuel tomorrow’s terrorrists.
The horrifying events which just took place in New-York and Washington are part of those which put their perpetrators on the bench of some of the most terrible criminals in recent history. The event is shocking everybody worldwide and I feel the deepest sorrow for the American people and the USA as a people and country attacked by surprise, with no means to protect itself from such “kamikaze” operations.
I feel that this event, beyond the rage and frustration of the victims and the American people in general, calls already for a short time of coolminded thoughts; while of course thinking deeply, with compassion, to all those lives taken, these families destroyed in a few minutes without warning, without a chance to escape or fight back.
The terrorists have to be punished but let’s think of the most efficient way before reacting.
Let’s be clear, those who planned, funded, supported, organised and perpetrated these attacks have to be punished as soon as possible. But, this attack is not just an attack on the USA. It is an attack on all democracies and peaceful countries and people. The way the punishment will be implemented will speak, not only for the USA, but also for the future and the values of these democracies and peaceful countries most of which are closed allies and friends of the USA.
Therefore, the US reaction will have a big impact on tomorrow’s world behaviour.
My opinion is that these terrorists and partners should be identified, captured and judged as soon as possible following the example of the international justice process which has been recently implemented for the war crimes in ex-Yougoslavia.
Such an event can help set up an international court for terrorists crimes. This will help tomorrow’s world to be more peaceful and stable. Unilateral solutions and reactions will just add more anger, hatred and instability to a world who is searching its way out of the XXst century violence and for which the 11 September 2001 may mark a true start for a new era, or the entrance in a new dimension of violence, the globalised terrorism.
So, when an event is so big. It is extremely urgent to take some time to understand in all its dimensions before reacting. Otherwise, the risk (and maybe the very trap set up by these terrorists group) is to increase the general level of risks and violence worldwide.
The US will not follow this path by themselves due to their current mistrust of multilateral organisations; nevertheless there is no option out if the objective is really to fight efficiently against terrorism.
The Europeans have for once a true and clear responsabilities: – to support their best allies and friends: the Americans – simultaneously to advise them with conviction about moving towards this international justice process – and to initiate and move forward the concept even if Washington is at first not convinced.
Let’s use this sad ‘window of opportunity’ to make tomorrow’s world more secure by setting new standarts of international behaviour sanctionned by law. That’s a true European duty and I hope that our leaders will meet the challenge rather than repeating again and again that they bring their “full support though with no blank-check”.
So let’s take the pen and start writing something on the check: it should be, no use of force without simultaneous setting up of an international legal framework against terrorism.
Franck Biancheri – 12/09/2001 ©LEAP2020
__________
This article was contributed on Tuesday September 12th by Franck Biancheri to several discussion lists in the USA and in Europe and has been since then circulated by several US and EU political websites.
[divider]
More articles by Franck Biancheri:
Au lendemain des attaques meurtrières à Londres, mais aussi à Kaboul et Manchester dernièrement, nous publions ci-dessous un article de Franck Biancheri, écrit le 12 septembre 2001 après l’attaque terroriste des tours jumelles du WTC à New York. Plutôt que de se lancer dans un autre « Yalta du contre-terrorisme », comme le propose Marine Le Pen(Lire : Ouest-France, 04/06/2017 – et qui ressemblerait fort aux interventions américaines au Proche et Moyen Orient après le 11 septembre) et pour lutter à même échelle que ce terrorisme « globalisé », à ces attaques « contre toutes les démocraties, les pays et les peuples pacifiques » reprenons la proposition de Franck Biancheri : la création d’une « cour internationale pour les crimes terroristes ». Ces « terribles événements … appartiennent à la catégorie de ceux qui mettent leurs auteurs sur le même banc que les plus horribles criminels de l’histoire moderne. » pour citer Franck Biancheri.
[divider]
Pour une politique européenne pro-active et constructive en réponse aux attaques sur les Etats Unis: créons une cour internationale contre le terrorisme, comme on l’a fait pour l’ex-Yougoslavie… et tentons d’éviter les réactions unilatérales qui nourriront le terrorisme de demain. Franck Biancheri, 12/09/2001
Les terribles évènements qui viennent de se produire à New York et Washington appartiennent à la catégorie de ceux qui mettent leurs auteurs sur le même banc que les plus horribles criminels de l’histoire moderne. Cet évènement choque le monde entier et je ressens la douleur la plus profonde pour le peuple américain et les Etats-Unis qui viennent de subir cette attaque surprise, sans aucun recours pour se protéger contre de telles opérations kamikaze. Il me semble que cet évènement, au-delà de la rage et la frustration des victimes et du peuple américain en général, nécessite déjà une réflexion de court terme et de sang froid ; sans cesser pour autant de compatir à toutes ces vies fauchées, ces familles brisées en quelques minutes sans avertissement, sans une chance de pour échapper ou se défendre.
Les terroristes doivent être punis, mais il faut réfléchir aux actions les plus efficaces avant de réagir.
Soyons clair, ceux qui ont planifié, organisé et perpétré ces attaques, doivent être punis dès que possible. Mais ces attentats ne sont pas juste une attaque contre les Etats-Unis. Elles sont une attaque contre toutes les démocraties, les pays et les peuples pacifiques. La façon dont la punition sera appliquée parlera, non seulement pour les Etats-Unis, mais pour l’avenir et les valeurs de ces démocraties et pays pacifiques dont la plupart sont des alliés proches des Etats-Unis.
Par conséquent, la réaction américaine aura un impact considérable sur le comportement du monde de demain.
A mon avis, ces terroristes et leurs partenaires devraient être identifiés, capturés et jugés dès que possible, suivant la procédure de la cour internationale de justice récemment mise en place pour juger les crimes de guerre en ex-Yougoslavie.
Un tel évènement fournit l’occasion de créer une cour internationale pour les crimes terroristes, qui assurerait un monde de demain plus pacifique et plus stable. Les solutions et les réactions unilatérales ne font qu’ajouter de la colère, de la haine et de l’instabilité dans un monde qui cherche à sortir de la violence du XX° siècle et pour lequel le 11 septembre 2001 marque le début d’une nouvelle ère, ou l’entrée dans une nouvelle dimension de violence, le terrorisme globalisé.
Lorsqu’un évènement est si important, il est urgent de prendre un peu de temps pour en saisir toutes les dimensions avant de réagir. Ou alors le risque (et peut-être même le piège monté sciemment par ces groupes terroristes) sera d’augmenter le niveau général de danger et de violence de par le monde.
Les Etats-Unis, en raison de leur méfiance vis-à-vis des organisations multilatérales, ne suivront pas ce chemin d’eux-mêmes ; pourtant il n’y a pas d’autre option si l’objectif est bien de combattre efficacement le terrorisme.
Les européens ont pour une fois des responsabilités claires :
soutenir leurs meilleurs alliés et leurs amis : les américains
simultanément, leur conseiller avec conviction d’aller dans le sens d’un processus de justice internationale
et initier et faire avancer cette idée, même si Washington n’est pas convaincu au début.
Profitons de cette triste occasion pour contribuer à un monde de demain plus sûr en établissant de nouvelles normes de comportement international fondé sur le droit. C’est là un vrai devoir européen et j’espère que nos responsables relèveront le défi au lieu de ressasser indéfiniment qu’ils apportent “leur plein soutien, mais pas de chèque en blanc”.
Prenons la plume et écrivons quelque chose sur le chèque : pas d’usage de la force en dehors d’un cadre légal international contre le terrorisme.
Franck Biancheri – 12/09/2001 ©LEAP2020
⇒ Pour une politique européenne pro-active et constructive en réponse aux attaques sur les Etats Unis (Franck Biancheri Documentation)
__________
Cet article a été envoyé le 12 septembre sur plusieurs listes de discussion aux Etats Unis et en Europe, et a depuis circulé sur différents sites web politiques américains et européens.
[divider]
Lire d’autres articles de Franck Biancheri:
